Alpine Springs Provides Ideal Family Entertainment

My family and I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Alpine Springs Resort in Lake Tekapo. Travelling through from Wanaka on our way to Christchurch, Lake Tekapo was the perfect place to break our journey and Alpine Springs kept us all well entertained for the afternoon.

With Hot Pools, an Ice Skating Ring, Day Spa, Snow Tubing Park and a fully licensed Café all on site, Alpine Springs really did provide entertainment for the whole family. We visited on a busy day during the school holidays but other than a short wait to get started in the Snow Tubing Park we weren’t worried by the crowds.

First up was the snow tubing. My husband, having recently undergone knee surgery, decided to opt out of this activity, preferring instead to watch from the viewing platform before retiring to the Café for a quiet beer. In the meantime, Granddad, the kids and I grabbed our ‘tubes’ – picture something akin to a well padded (huge) tyre – and lined up at the ‘magic carpet’.

To the uninitiated (like me) snow tubing is a little like a bobsleigh run. You simply sit yourself in your ‘tube’ (tyre), put your heart in your mouth and zoom down the one hundred and fifty metre long by fifty metre wide snow covered slope. I have to say, it was a little faster and scarier than I was expecting but my six and nine year olds loved it and even Granddad seemed to be having the time of his life so we hopped back on the magic carpet and rode back to the top of the slope for another go. And another, and another… An hour passed by in a flash and then we decided ice skating should be next on the agenda.

The Skating Rink operates year round with ice skating on offer from mid April - mid September. The Rink is also used for Ice Hockey and Curling at other times. We’re not the most experienced or skilled skaters but we had a great time on the ice. We entertained ourselves for an hour or so, slowly graduating from a slow creep round the perimeter clinging to the barriers to something resembling a glide. The Rink is a decent size and can easily cater to all levels from total beginners to experts.

After an afternoon of activity and a few sore muscles it was definitely time to retire to the Hot Pools for some well earned rest and recovery time! There are three adjoining Hot Pools, strategically placed to take best advantage of the wonderful views looking out over Lake Tekapo. The Pools take the shape of the region’s lakes: Ohau, Pukaki and Tekapo and each pool offers something different - massage jets to assist in taking away any aches and pains and fountains to splash under. One pool is for adults only which can definitely be a good thing for anyone wanting a make the most of this romantic location.

Last but not least, a few drinks in the Café before it was time to say a reluctant goodbye to Alpine Springs with the kids asking, “Can we come back tomorrow?”

For more information on Alpine Springs head to www.alpinesprings.co.nz